Shoe-tempering machine



Patented Mar. 1', I927.

OFFICEQ DONALD B. HEATH, 0F \VHITMAN, .I/IAESSACHUfiETTEE, ASSIGNOR 'IO BOSTONELECTRIC HEATING CORPORATION, Old 'WHITMA MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed. ma 25,

My present invention isa novel and improved tempering machlne partlcularly designed and adapted for temperingthe toes of shoes during the process of'manufacture.

The present invention is an improvement over the construction illustrated and described in my prior Patent No. 1,589,802,

, issued May 26, 1925, and presents a more efficient structure and results factory andefficient work.

r'kn important feature of the present 111- vention is the provision of a heating un1t en closed" in a ribbed casing, this casing being positioned in a tank containing a relatively small amount of water." The ribbed construction of the heating unit casing affords a large heating surface with a relatively small amount of water to be transformed to steam, the water in the tank being preferably maintained at a constant level from a supply externally of the tempering machine itself. This permits rapid formation of steam and consequent speedier operation of the machine, The watertank above referred to isfixed to the interior of a chamber or cabinet, the walls of which form the exterior ofthe machine, this chamber being constructed to act as a chimney for the air therein, which will be heated by the heat of thetank, which consequently effects a rising action of theflair, tending to give increased rise to the steam from the interior of thetanlz. This air space within the chamber also acts as an insulat ing means between theheating unit and outside of the machine, tendingto prevent excessi've heat on the exterior of the machine,

Further features of the invention co1nprise a baffle plate or member betweenthe steam generating chamber and .the usual tempering chamber, preventing too rapid or sudden rising of the steam in contact with the shoe; additional steam tempering means positioned just underneath the shoe to be tempered; and adjustable shoe holding means'to prevent contact of the shoe with the apparatus and position the same relatively with the heating elements to result in the most efi'icient application of the temperedsteam thereto. I

Further features ofthe invention, details, novel combinations of parts and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

in more satis- N, IVIASSAOHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF snonrnrtrnrane Meet-tr via.

1926. Serial No. 111, 20.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. l is a side section of the machine, partly in elevation Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4.--is a cross-sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the ribbed heating unit casing and baffle plate.

Since the machine illustrated herein is Ctl1313l6 of extremely speedy operation, I have herein shown sameas constructed to receive a single shoe only, although it will be appreciated that I may vary the size of same to accommodate as many shoes as desired. Since, however, it requires but a relatively short period of temper a shoe adapted I the purpose equally as well as a multiple machine, and for this reason I have herein illustrated and described a single-shoe machine', but it will be appreciated and understood that I am not limited thereto.

i In the machine shown in the drawings, I utilize a cabinet or enclosing casing 1, which may be mounted on a bench, table, or other desirable supporting medium, but I have herein illustrated a preferred form of supby this construction, a machine port, comprising a bracket 4i, preforated at time to efficiently to hold but a single shoe will serve generating I net 1 by arms 7 secured to the cabinet by bolts or screws 8. A heating unit, preferably electrical, 9, within a casing 10, is inserted in the tanl' a plate 11 secured tothe bottom of the tank by bolts or the like 12. Current conductinguvires 13 lead from the terminals 14 to the heating unit 9. I wires 15 from a suitable source of current are also illustrated.

or webs 16, which e xtendfifrom the casing 10 substantially to theinner Wall of the steam gener- Gurrent conducting.

Thecasing 10 is pro-- vided with a plurality of ribs Band held therein y i a determined water level, here indicated as 20,

is maintained in the steam generating chamber 17, this water level "being preferably maintained relatively low, tor quicker steaming. Upon the formation of steam in the generating chamber 17, the steam will rise upwardly, the distributing head is secured to the top of the heater casing 1O by a set screw 2% or the like. The steam must pass this battle plate around the periphery thereof, the battle plate being so 6 by bolts,

positioned as to leave a slight annular opening 25 therearound. Once past the bafie plat-e23, "he steam then enters a chamber or steam chest 26 in the head 22, whence it, is distributed, through perforations 27, upwardly between ribs 28, to the shoe 29 to be tempered. The distributing head is secured to the upper arms 30 of the casing screws or the like 8L These ribs 28 will also become heated during the operation of the machine, and will have a dryin and tempering influence. on the steam emerging from the perforations 2?. The air 1n the chamber 3, responding to the action theshoe, without any tempering steam,

. of the shoe and marring same.

the like, andiare pivotable on said bosses.

' sloping toward of the heat, will rise, the casingacting as a chimney, and this rising of the air will create a rising action on the steam, inaddition to its own rise, thus accelerating the rise of the steam and increasing the efii ci-ency of the machine, andithe heated air will also tend to temper the steam before it reaches the shoe being acted upon. If live steam were permitted to contact with of the the leather of the shoe would be burned, The cap 32 of the casing 1, preferably formed integral therewith, is truncated, V the opening 33 at the top of the machine. This truncated formation ofthe cap 82 permits any condensation from the steam to run downwardly along the sides thereof and out at the bottom of the machine, without dropping onto the leather A pair of supporting rods or members 8-1- are secured to bosses 35 on the cap 32 by setscrews or plurality V vided on which the bott m oi the shoe 29 rests. An opening or'mouth 38 is provided in the cap 32 for the insertion of the shoe A pre- 7 to the, opening 21 m A batlie plate '23.

A water level of cross wires or rods 37 are pro.

29 to the predetermined extent. The position of the shoe, and the height to which it is raised above the ribs 28, is determined by an adjusting screw 39 threaded through a boss or shoulder 10 on the casing 1. The shoe support is raised or lowered as desired by adjustment of this screw 39.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a novel, extremely efficient and satisfactory operating shoe tempering machine, the operation of which will be readily understood and which is as follows:

The water being constantly in the chamber 17 at the desired predetermined level, such as 20, and current being applied to thev heating unit 9, the rapidly heats, radiating heat through its sides and through the webs 16, forming steam in the chamber 17, which steam rises, of its own accord, and due also to the rise of heated air in the interior chamber the casing 1. The steam passes by the bafiie plate 23 into the steamchest'or chamber 26 and upwardly through the perforations 27 between the ribs 28. It being desired to heatin 111111; casin 10 r temper the forepart of the shoe, such as the the supterials of same without burning it. :A relatively short time only is required for the tempering of each shoe, and the operator can readily reach tothe rack and replace the shoe 29 with another, without any loss of time. V

It will be appreciated that I may, it desired, form my novel apparatus with means to temper a pair or a plurality of shoes, instead of only one, although the invention is fully embodied in a single shoe temper-- ing machine as well as it applied to a' plurality. Y i

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I my vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

My invention is further described and defined in the form or claims as follows:

,1. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising an annular cabinet, a steam generat ing chamber atliXed to the'interior of-said cabinet, means to maintain a predetermined 'n said steam generating chamher, a heating unit contained in a casing in said steam'generating chamber, said casing having a plurality of webs for increased heat radiation, a distributing head secured to said steam generating chamber, means to limit the volume of'steam passing to said distributing head, a plurality of ribs on said head, perforations between said ribs, said cabinet being formed at its uppermost portion as a truncated cone, adjustable shoe supporting means and an opening through which the shoe to be steamed may be inserted into the path of the steam.

2. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising an annular cabinet, asteam gener ating chamber afiixed to the interior of said cabinet, means to maintain a predetermined water level in said steam generating chainher, a heating unit contained in a casing in said steam generating chamber, said casing having a plurality of Webs for increased heat radiation, a distributing head secured to said steam generating chamber, means to limit the Volume of steam passing to said distributing head, a plurality of ribs on said head, perforations between said ribs, said cabinet being formed at its uppermost portion as'a truncated cone, adjustable shoe supporting means, an opening through which the shoe to be steamed may be inserted into the path of the steam, and means to temper said steam before it contacts with the shoe.

3. Apparatus ofthe kind described, comprising an annular cabinet, a steam generating chamber afliXed to the interior of said cabinet, means to maintain a predetermined water level in said steam generating cham her, a, heating unit contained in a casing in said steam generating chamber, said casing having a plurality of webs for increased heat radiation, a distributing headsecured to said steam generating chamber, a baflie plate to limit the volume of steam passing to said distrlbutmg head, a plurality of ribs on said head, perforations between said IlbS, said cabinet being formed at its uppermost por-' 

